Page 15 of With Good Grace
‘This is your first and only warning, Molly. Set one foot out of line again and you will be gone. Do we understand one another?’
Molly, who had never seen Olivia half so angry with her before, nodded. ‘Yes, ma’am. Thank you, ma’am. I won’t forget myself again.’
‘See that you do not. Keep your opinions to yourself and don’t air them, even in the servants’ hall. I shall know if you do.’ Olivia sighed, wondering if she was right to give the girl another chance when she no longer felt she could trust her. She was unsure now if she ever had. But still, what was the worst that Molly could do? Tell the world that Olivia had shared a bed with Jake? That would hardly rock the foundations of society, and if it meant that Olivia was ostracised by the sanctimonious minority, she would survive the experience. ‘Right. The mauve twill, I think, Molly. And the wide netted hat that matches it. That gown gives me confidence and I want to make an impression upon my odious sister-in-law.’
‘Is everything all right?’ Jake asked when she re-joined him and he cast an approving eye over her attire.
‘Perfectly so. Just a small domestic crisis that required my attention. I am sorry if I kept you waiting.’
‘The short wait was well worth it,’ he replied with an engaging smile. ‘Right, shall we away?’
Jake’s carriage was at the door. He helped her into it before embarking himself. Parker put up the steps, closed the door and climbed up on the box seat with the driver. They began the short journey to Surrey.
‘I asked Margaret to prepare a list of Hubert’s engagements, and also the names of his closest friends. I hope she will have that ready for us.’
‘What is it?’ Jake asked, covering her gloved hand with his own. ‘I suppose the thought of visiting your husband’s former home disturbs you. Oh lord, your own family live close by as well. I take it you are not on good terms with your parents and brother.’
‘We have little to do with one another. They did not exactly rush to support me when I was accused of murder, so I have no need of their company now.’ She smiled at him and slipped her hand into his. He interlaced their fingers and gave her palm a gentle squeeze. ‘I want to get to the bottom of this matter, Jake.’ She fixed him with a determined look. ‘And I think you do too.’
Chapter Five
The moment the carriage turned onto the driveway leading to Grantley Hall, the neglected state of the grounds confirmed Jake’s suspicion that Sir Hubert must be in desperate financial straits. A gentleman was judged by outward appearances and to one as self-aware as Grantley, the maintenance of his property was the last area in which economies would have been made. Jake wondered what foolishness his desperation had forced him to contemplate in order to recover his respectability. He suspected there was little Grantley would not consider, no matter how dubious its legality, perhaps accounting for his disappearance.
Jake reined in his mental perambulations, aware that he was getting ahead of himself. He would reserve judgement until he had spoken with Lady Grantley and gained a better picture of the family’s circumstances. But his initial impression did not improve as they approached the house and he noticed that several slates were missing from the roof and the gaping holes had not been patched. A chimney stack had collapsed and he noticed a few cracked panes of glass in upper windows.
Olivia stared blankly towards chimneys in the distance; her family home, presumably. Hopefully her mind was engaged upon pleasant reflections of a carefree childhood spent in this idyllic part of the world. Jake gave her hand a reassuring squeeze as the carriage came to a halt at Grantley Hall’s entrance portico, its roof supported by crumbling pillars, weeds growing around their base. One ragged-looking groom came to take the horses’ heads. Jake paused to see if a butler would appear to greet them, unsurprised when the door did not open.
Parker slipped stealthily from the box seat and sauntered around the side of the house, having already received his orders from Jake. Useful information could be extracted from servants speaking to one of their own, especially if they had grievances to air. In spite of her anxiety for her husband’s wellbeing and her requirement for Jake’s help, Lady Grantley would not find it easy to admit to their straitened circumstances. Olivia had frequently referred to her as being more arrogantly superior than her husband and she would undoubtedly think of a way to explain the dilapidated state of the property in order to save face.
‘Are you ready?’ he asked, helping Olivia from the conveyance.
‘As I ever will be,’ she replied, suppressing a shudder, straightening her shoulders and lifting her chin.
‘You look adorable in that hat,’ he said softly.
‘There is nothing like a new hat to give a lady confidence.’
‘I cannot compete with the confidence-enhancing qualities of your milliner,’ he replied in a teasing tone. ‘But I hope my presence goes some small way to calming your nerves.’
‘Whatever makes you think I am nervous?’ Jake chuckled but did not articulate the long list of tell-tale signs. ‘Well yes, you are right, of course. This whole wretched business has got me in a taking. I had hoped never to come here again and would like to get it over with. I would also prefer not to run into my mother since I doubt whether I would be able to keep a polite tongue in my head if I did.’
‘You have had no contact with her?’
‘All of my family have tried to ingratiate themselves—now that I am not being branded a murderess and have more money than they do.’
Jake permitted his disgust to evidence itself in his expression. ‘That does not surprise me.’
‘Hubert and my family almost came to blows, I understand, about who would have custody of Tom, and thereby Marcus’s money.’
Jake shook his head, determined that Olivia would not be troubled by a parent who had turned her back on her daughter in her most desperate hour of need. Jake had often wondered how any mother could be so hard-hearted. Then he recalled his own mother’s cold, calculating behaviour and reminded himself that prejudice easily overcame any remnants of maternal instinct in her particular case.
‘Come,’ he said softly, offering Olivia his arm.
They ascended the steps and the door was opened just as they reached it by a maid wearing a pinafore that was not clean. She gaped when she saw Olivia, took Jake’s card and asked them to wait in the hall while she enquired whether her mistress was at home.
‘She had better be,’ Olivia muttered, abstractedly wandering about. Jake noticed gaps on the walls revealing cleaner areas on the faded wallpaper where paintings had once hung. Presumably they had been sold. ‘I wonder what has happened to Jute, Hubert’s butler. He never permitted anyone else to answer the door.’
‘I suspect he has been dismissed. That maid’s uniform was not clean, this floor hasn’t been washed for several days and…well, butlers cost more to employ than maids.’
